atún
Mexico
In Mexico "tuna" is atún. Canned tuna is atún enlatado and is widely eaten as a quick meal, for example in tostadas de atún.
People say lata de atún for a can of tuna. Fresh tuna in a restaurant may be called atún fresco or atún aleta amarilla for yellowfin.
Meaning: a large ocean fish eaten fresh or canned (noun)
Which one should you use?
In Mexico tuna is also the fruit of the prickly pear cactus, so tuna and atún are not the same thing.
How does it change in a sentence?
Atún is masculine: el atún. The plural is atunes.
Did you know?
- The tuna fruit of the nopal cactus appears on the Mexican flag only indirectly, through the nopal on the eagle's perch.
Examples in context
- Comí una tostada de atún.I ate a tuna tostada.
- Compra dos latas de atún.Buy two cans of tuna.
- Las tunas son frutas dulces.Prickly pears are sweet fruits.
Example conversation
Clara and her husband Omar plan dinner in Veracruz.
- Clara¿Qué cenamos hoy?What shall we have for dinner today?
- OmarTostadas de atún, es rápido.Tuna tostadas, it is quick.
- ClaraCompro limones y aguacate.I will buy limes and avocado.
